Bringing Spain Home

By: Lauren Talley Posted: 06/08/09 12:26am Comments: 1

Ann Arbor, Mich. — I arrived in the U.S. more than a week ago, but it feels like longer. Coming home was, in a way, just what I needed and, in another way, less shocking that I had expected.

There’s an idea of reverse culture shock where a traveler’s experience reentering their home culture is more shocking than the one they visited. I do see the differences between American and Spanish lifestyles — though I think the most shocking is hearing English all around me — but sleeping in my own bed and driving down the same roads makes Spain feel like months ago and home feel like it hasn’t changed.

Home has changed obviously (the lack of snow should be the first clue) but this homecoming was more comforting than any semester away thus far.

I miss Spain, but it’s good to be back in Michigan. Upon departure, I told everyone I would stay away as long as possible, but the truth is, after five months abroad I was ready to come home.

Some say study abroad will change your life; others consider it an excuse to party overseas. Either way it gave me an opportunity to grow and experience a world outside of the United States.

Of course, I’m concerned my Spanish will suffer when I’m not speaking, reading and hearing it every day and I’m still not fluent, but it’s a process and my proficiency helped me snag a summer job in Chicago so I’m excited to continue learning.

If I can give any advice on future study abroad participants, it’s this: Do your research. Pick a place for your interest in its program and the country. Be open and be spontaneous and even if you find yourself not fitting into the culture, the experience is less about living somewhere that becomes what you’re used to and more about experiencing what you’re not.

Find one you can’t stop thinking about because no day passed when I didn’t think: I’m in Spain.

A second ode to Barcelona

Posted 05/16 @ 5:20pm (1 comment(s) )

Barcelona, I’m back, and this time it’s different.

Spain provides plenty of finals week distractions

Posted 05/03 @ 4:59pm (2 comment(s) )

Preparing for finals is difficult in Spain. I’m without a 24-hour library, midnight screams and the collective stress of 40,000-plus students. Instead, I’m surrounded by the best weather I could ask for, a beach within minutes and a culture that exudes relaxation.

Spring break hits Valencia

Posted 04/13 @ 6:49pm (0 comment(s) )

Valencia, Spain — Spring Break por fin!

Valencia's beaches beautiful

Posted 03/26 @ 5:32pm (0 comment(s) )

_Valencia, Spain —_Did I mention Valencia is on the Mediterranean coast?

Its nearness to the sea causes unpleasant scents of sewage, but Valencia has a beach, and a big beautiful one at that – and it’s only a 20-minute Metro ride from my apartment.

An ode to Barcelona

Posted 03/22 @ 8:55pm (0 comment(s) )

Dear Barcelona,

You have surprised and disappointed me. I spent less than 24 hours in your wacky wonderland of Gaudi, Las Ramblas and Picasso and only slept three hours in one of your hip hostels in a less than hip part of town.

Fallas celebration leaves town back to normal

Posted 03/21 @ 10:06pm (0 comment(s) )

Valencia, Spain – The round-the-clock booms have stopped.

The crowds of the drunken and disorderly have gone home, or left town.

Weekend trip to Madrid hectic

Posted 03/13 @ 11:49pm (1 comment(s) )

Some say everything happens for a reason, and as cliché as it sounds, my weekend in Madrid reaffirmed that statement.

Take the journey to Madrid: I almost went to Palma Mallorca this weekend, but decided at the last minute to join a group headed west to Madrid and Segovia. No destination change, no Madrid.

Midterm week ends at blogger’s first fútbol game

Posted 03/01 @ 1:07pm (0 comment(s) )

Valencia, Spain – Midterms finally ended Thursday and I don’t think I’ve been more drained from an exam week. Maybe it’s the steep decline in caffeine. I have a cup of coffee each morning and the occasional café con leche in the afternoon, but that’s nowhere near the daily four-cup pot I became accustomed to last semester.

Turning 21 different in Spain

Posted 02/25 @ 8:26pm (2 comment(s) )

Valencia, Spain – This weekend I turned 21. For Americans, it’s one of the most celebrated birthdays of our lives. In Europe — where the legal drinking age seems more like a formality than a law — the big 2-1 is about as big as 20 or 22, or any other age after 18.

Spanish Encounters in Valencia

Journalism junior and former State News copy editor Lauren Talley is studying Spanish at the University of Virginia at Valencia for the spring 2009 semester.

This is her account of life in Spain’s third largest city.

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